BILL ANALYSIS Ó
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THIRD READING
Bill No: AB 2007
Author: Grove (R), et al.
Amended: 7/2/14 in Senate
Vote: 21
SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE : 6-0, 6/25/14
AYES: Liu, Wyland, Correa, Hancock, Huff, Monning
NO VOTE RECORDED: Block
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE : 6-0, 8/4/14
AYES: De León, Walters, Gaines, Hill, Padilla, Steinberg
NO VOTE RECORDED: Lara
ASSEMBLY FLOOR : 73-0, 5/23/14 (Consent) - See last page for
vote
SUBJECT : Virtual or online charter schools: average daily
attendance
SOURCE : Author
DIGEST : This bill, until January 1, 2018, authorizes a
virtual or online charter school, as defined, to also claim
independent study average daily attendance for a pupil who is
enrolled in a virtual or online charter school and moves to a
residence outside of the geographic boundaries in which the
virtual or online charter school is authorized to operate for
the duration of the virtual or online charter school course or
courses or until the end of the school year, whichever occurs
first. This bill requires California Department of Education
CONTINUED
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2
(CDE) to report to the appropriate policy committees of both
houses of the Legislature, the Department of Finance, and the
Legislative Analyst's Office on or before December 31, 2016, on
CDE's assessment, as specified.
ANALYSIS : Under existing law, the Charter Schools Act of 1992
provides for the establishment of charter schools in California
for the purpose, among other things, to improve student learning
and expand learning experiences for pupils who are identified as
academically low achieving. A charter school may be authorized
by a school district, a county board of education, or the State
Board of Education, as specified. Some charter schools are new
while others are conversions from existing schools. Except
where specifically noted otherwise, California law exempts
charter schools from many of the statutes and regulations that
apply to schools and school districts.
A charter school that does not meet the requirements to be a
classroom-based instruction school is considered to be
nonclassroom-based and must have a funding determination
approved by the State Board of Education. Classroom-based
instruction occurs only when pupils are under the immediate
supervision and control of a certificated teacher. The charter
school must offer at least 80% of its instructional time at the
school site (for classroom instruction) and attendance must be
required at the school site for at least 80% of the minimum
instructional time required to be offered. Charter schools can
only claim average daily attendance (ADA) for pupils who are
residents of the county in which the charter school is
authorized, or who are residents of a county immediately
adjacent to that county.
Existing law defines a virtual or online charter school as one
in which at least 80% of teaching and student interaction occurs
via the Internet. In order for a virtual or online charter
school to be funded, it must demonstrate the following:
1.The school has met its overall and subgroup Academic
Performance Index growth targets;
2.Instructional expenditures are at least 85% of the overall
school budget and at least 25% is spent on technology that
directly benefits students and teachers and results in
improved student achievement;
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3.Computer-based instruction and assessment is provided to each
pupil and includes the use of an online instructional
management program, as specified;
4.Teachers are provided with specified technology tools and
print media;
5.All pupils are provided an individualized learning plan that
is based on initial testing and that is monitored either
remotely or in person by the teacher to evaluate pupil
progress;
6.All pupils are provided access to a computer, Internet
service, printer, monitor, and standards-aligned materials;
7.All pupils eligible for special education supports and
services receive those supports and services in accordance
with their individualized education plan; and
8.Charter school admission practices will not favor high
performing pupils or recruit a pupil population that is of a
higher socioeconomic group or lower racial or ethnic
representation than the general population of the county or
counties served.
This bill:
1.Authorizes, until January 1, 2018, a virtual or online charter
school, as defined, to also claim independent study average
daily attendance for a pupil who is enrolled in a virtual or
online charter school and moves to a residence outside of the
geographic boundaries in which the virtual or online charter
school is authorized to operate for the duration of the
virtual or online charter school course or courses or until
the end of the school year, whichever occurs first.
2.Defines "virtual or online charter school" as a charter school
in which at least 80% of the teaching and pupil interaction
occurs via the Internet.
3.Requires CDE to report to the appropriate policy committees of
both houses of the Legislature, the Department of Finance, and
the Legislative Analyst's Office on or before December 31,
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2016, on CDE's assessment of the need for a virtual or online
charter school to claim the independent study average daily
attendance of pupils enrolled in a virtual or online charter
school that have moved outside of the geographic boundaries in
which the virtual or online charter school is authorized for
the duration of the courses in which the pupils are enrolled.
FISCAL EFFECT : Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: Yes
Local: No
According to the Senate Appropriations Committee:
ADA: Unknown, but likely minor costs/savings (Prop 98 General
Fund) to allow students to remain enrolled in their virtual or
online charter schools of attendance for the remainder or a
school year in which they move out of the geographic service
boundaries of that school.
CDE "report": Likely minor costs to the CDE to report on its
assessment of the need for this new authority. The CDE
estimates incurring additional workload worth about $30,000 to
complete the report.
SUPPORT : (Verified 8/6/14)
Connections Academy
K-12, Inc.
ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT : According to the author's office,
"approximately 43 percent of virtual schools identify special
education or at-risk children and youth as their target student
populations. These include students in the juvenile justice
system and students who are at risk of dropping out."
Additionally, the author's office indicates that virtual charter
schools are an increasingly popular option among non-traditional
students, including athletes, actors, and high-mobility
students, such as children from military families. By allowing
students that are enrolled in a virtual charter school to remain
in that school if they are forced to move to another county in
the state, the bill will allow a child to have continuity and
continue to thrive in the school where they are already a
student.
ASSEMBLY FLOOR : 73-0, 05/23/14
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AYES: Achadjian, Alejo, Allen, Ammiano, Bigelow, Bloom,
Bocanegra, Bonta, Bradford, Brown, Buchanan, Ian Calderon,
Campos, Chau, Chávez, Chesbro, Conway, Cooley, Dababneh,
Dahle, Daly, Dickinson, Donnelly, Eggman, Fong, Fox, Frazier,
Beth Gaines, Garcia, Gatto, Gomez, Gonzalez, Gordon, Gorell,
Gray, Grove, Hagman, Hall, Holden, Jones, Jones-Sawyer,
Levine, Linder, Logue, Lowenthal, Maienschein, Mansoor,
Medina, Mullin, Muratsuchi, Nazarian, Olsen, Pan, Patterson,
Perea, John A. Pérez, Quirk, Quirk-Silva, Rendon,
Ridley-Thomas, Rodriguez, Salas, Skinner, Stone, Ting, Wagner,
Waldron, Weber, Wieckowski, Wilk, Williams, Yamada, Atkins
NO VOTE RECORDED: Bonilla, Harkey, Roger Hernández, Melendez,
Nestande, V. Manuel Pérez, Vacancy
PQ:nl 8/6/14 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: SEE ABOVE
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